1996 Chevrolet Cavalier Owner's Manual - Page 225

If a Tire Goes Flr It's unusual for atire to "blow out" while you're driving, especially if you maintain your tires properly. If air goes out of a tire, it's much more likely to leak slowly. out But if you should ever have a "blowout," here are a few tips about what to expect and what todo: If a fronttire fails, the flat tire will create a drag that pulls the vehicle toward thatside. Take your foot off the accelerator pedal and grip the steering wheel firmly. Steer to maintain lane position, and then gently brake to a stop well out of the traffic lane. Changing a Flat Tire If a tire goes rlat, avoid further tire and wheel damage by driving slowly to a level place. Turn on your hazard warning flashers. I A rear blowout, particularly on a curve, acts much likea skid and mayrequire the same correction you'd use in a skid. In any rear blowout, remove your foot from the accelerator pedal. Get the vehicle under control by steering the way you wantthe vehicle to go. It may be very bumpy and noisy, but you can still steer. Gently brake to a stop -- well off the road if possible. If a tire goes flat, thenext part shows how to use your jacking equipment to change a flat safely. tire Changing a tire can cause an injury. The vehicle can slip off the jack and over you or other roll people. You and they could bebadly injured. Find a level place to change your tire. To help prevent thevehicle from moving: 1. Set the parking brake firmly. 2. Put an automatic transaxle shift lever in PARK (P), or shift a manual transaxle to FIRST (1) or REVERSE (R). 3. l b r n off the engine. To be even more certain the vehicle won't move, you can putblocks at the front and rear of the tire farthest away from the one changed. being That would be the tire on the other side of the vehicle, at the oppositeend. 5-21